On being tested ..with ease

I once wondered why I’m not being tested. Allah tests those He loves, so doesn’t He love me?

No one speaks about about being tested with ease. ‘Cause it seems glamorous. No one ever says “make du’a for those experiencing ease.”

I have family in the Middle East who are suffering on a daily basis, and here I am in sunny South Africa, in one of the most beautiful cities in the whole wide world, getting to learn (and teach) the best of books every day. I have nothing to complain about. Nada. Oh wait. Just maybe poor me is a lil lonesome and wouldn’t mind a companion. But I am pretty fulfilled within myself for the most part. Alhamdulillah.

I once watched a video where the speaker was saying we pray for the people in Syria but we don’t pray for the people in Dubai. The difference is that the people in Syria are being tested with difficulty while the wealthy in Dubai are being tested with ease and luxury. He said that we should be praying for the people in Dubai [i.e. those who have it all]. The Muslims of Syria already have their Jannah earned and their ranks are being raised because of their hardships, whilst those who have it all are partying it up in Dubai [note: I know that’s a sweeping generalisation, but you get the point].

It took a friend to point out to me that good times/ ease is my test. And it is actually harder than the test of difficulty. Because it isn’t obvious. I mean, I didn’t even realise I was being tested. So it’s far easier to fail this type of test. (In which case, I probably am miserably failing.)

Tough questions I need to ask myself (every day😬), and you can ask yourself too:

Am I grateful enough to Allah SWT?Am I making the best use of my time and resources?

If I took account of myself, would I be satisfied or would I fall short?

Someone once advised me to never ask Allah for which tests you want and which you don’t want. Why? Because HE is AL-HAKEEM. He tailor-makes your tests for you. And doesn’t He know you better than you know yourself?